President will use victory to advance political process - FM

Irangika RANGE and Sandasen MARASINGHE

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Parliament that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has emphasized that the remarkable victory achieved by eliminating terrorism would be used to advance the political process.

The Minister said this started initially with the Provincial Council elections in the East in 2008 once the LTTE was flushed out in the region. Then the Presidential Election was held and the people of the North were able to cast their ballot freely for the first time after more than two decades. He said the people will have another chance to exercise their franchise at the forthcoming Parliamentary Election on April 8.

After that, the Government will conduct the Northern Provincial Council Election. The Minister said the Government is aware that the current national need is to improve the infrastructure damaged in the conflict as well as healing the hearts and minds. "Towards this end, we have resolved to institute a mechanism for accountability based on our own concepts and targeted to achieve what the country needs," he said.

The country does not require guidance in this endeavor from foreign sources and the Government hopes that even at this stage, those in the UN system involved with Sri Lanka will come to accept the redundancy of their declared intent, he said.